Cradle Catholics don't think!

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agnes_therese said:
As a convert myself, I think that characterization of cradle catholics is unjust and downright rude. :mad:
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Currently converting right now, and I couldn’t agree more with you. Whoever started this thread has said something very unbecoming of a Catholic.
 
A convert at my church must get up every Sunday morning and attend 8:00 mass for a year . No big deal for most people, that service is always packed, but I like the 6:00PM vigil. After that there is a class for an hour and a half, numerous Rites, retreats. But other than getting out of the bed for those first few minutes, it was a great journey for me.

As a convert you cant help but be enthusiastic coming out of the starting gate. Converts are newly catechized, so that puts them in an advantage to catechize others. Our RCIA sponsors and instructors are half converts and half cradle, same for the catechist instructors.

I say all of this not to reinforce the title of the thread, rather to describe the happiness of incoming converts with their choice and new found faith. If it were not for the welcoming and happy CRADLE Catholics, the CONVERT Catholics would quickly become disillusioned, and then leave.

The absence of genuine stand up cradle Catholics would doom the church inside of one generation so clearly, this SIMPLY IS NOT THE CASE! Thanks to you Cradles for your welcome and guidance!:tiphat::clapping:
 
Thanks for all the thoughtful replies, which were respectful and insightful. Many of us differ. I think I originally asked questions, rather that gave answers. But in general it seems agreed that converts are more enthusiastic, and put cradle Catholics, like me, in our place.
There was one reply which pointed out how many of us Cradlers lapse. Here in Ireland the abuse scandals are blamed for the Catholic fall-off. I wonder are there deeper answers.
 
i am in the middle of converting I will be confirmed at the easter vidual. I have a protestant background and I have retained if you will the fearlessness to tackle the topic of religion which makes some uncomfortable. I guess what im saying is some are more subtle than I am 🤷
 
Some who have been in the pews for decades have the fire inside of them, not on the outside. Look at our Lady - silent in the Gospels, hidden, quiet. But there she is when it counts - at the incarnation, the beginning of Jesus’ ministry to encourage him when he hesitates, and at the foot of the cross.

*Mary, teacher of the sacrifice that is hidden and silent! See her, nearly always in the background, co-operating with her Son; she knows, yet says nothing.
  • St. Josemaria Escriva*
Just because someone is quiet and reserved doesn’t mean that they are lazy, uncommitted or careless. None of us knows how pleasing the other person’s soul is to God and many saints pass through life unnoticed, quietly getting up on time each day, working hard, doing penance, praying… for you and for me.

-Tim-
 
beckie_clark said:
i am in the middle of converting I will be confirmed at the easter vidual. I have a protestant background and I have retained if you will the fearlessness to tackle the topic of religion which makes some uncomfortable. I guess what im saying is some are more subtle than I am 🤷
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Welcome! Bet you are looking forward to the Easter Vigil! It is an awesome experience. Congratulations!
 
One, and this has been said over and over again in this forum, I don’t think that cradle Catholics are necessarily more lukewarm. They have the advantage of growing up in the Faith. But as a cradle Catholic myself, I do see where you are coming from. I think that as people age and mature into adulthood, they tend to doubt what they’ve been taught since childhood as a manifestation of looking out into the world beyond that they are about to enter, and considering the way that society educates its youth, it’s (unfortunately) no surprise that some fall. And maybe converts to Catholicism didn’t have to deal with that.

Also, Catholic converts by definition saw a fire in the Church that their religious denomination didn’t have. So they have known personally what it’s like to be outside the Faith. And they had to fight, with themselves and others, to move in. And their warrior zeal never left them. However, the only experience I have in this regard is reading Rome Sweet Home, so take it with a grain of salt.
 
Im a convert from Protestantism.

As far as I am concerned, if “cradle Catholics” do not know how to defend the faith well enough or “Don’t think” as the title of this thread has proclaimed, it is just as much my problem as theirs because we are all Catholic.
 
TimothyH said:
Some who have been in the pews for decades have the fire inside of them, not on the outside. Look at our Lady - silent in the Gospels, hidden, quiet. But there she is when it counts - at the incarnation, the beginning of Jesus’ ministry to encourage him when he hesitates, and at the foot of the cross.

Mary, teacher of the sacrifice that is hidden and silent! See her, nearly always in the background, co-operating with her Son; she knows, yet says nothing.
  • St. Josemaria Escriva
I agree with your post, Timothy.

It made me think of all of the people that I had met in my last parish, when I did a lot of volunteer work there. All kinds of different personalities coming together, for the good of the parish. There were some that were kind of quiet, and some that were more extroverted, but everyone always came together for the common good. 🙂
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NoelFitz said:
I have been looking at the contributions of Catholic thinkers and intellectuals to Catholicism and note very many seem to be converts. Also in Catholic discussion groups on the www very many of the most enthusiastic contributors seem to be converts. Observation goes so far as to give the impression that Cradle Catholics are lazy, uncommitted and careless.
Are these perceptions shared by others? Why?
I would love to hear from contributors here, converts or not. Thanks!
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In Australia, there are 4 main codes of football - Australian Rules, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Soccer. There’s even a small Gridiron contingent.

From Wikipedia -
Organised gridiron has been played in Australia since 1983 and is always referred to as gridiron rather than football to distinguish it from the other football codes such as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football or soccer.
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  • Just a side note.
Suppose a player decides to go from playing Rugby League to Australian Rules.

The chances are he’s going to be more enthusiastic about “talking” about the differences between the two sports. He may not be any better a player because he’s made the switch, but he’ll probably be more vocal about his perceptions of the two games and their differences.

Meanwhile the dyed-in-the-wool Aussie Rules or League players will just go on playing the game they know best, and not comparing the two of them.

Ergo, Cradle Catholics will just go on being cradle Catholics, for the simple reason they don’t feel they have to justify their decision to change, because they haven’t made one. They’re happy where they are.

And that applies to anything.
 
NoelFitz said:
I have been looking at the contributions of Catholic thinkers and intellectuals to Catholicism and note very many seem to be converts. Also in Catholic discussion groups on the www very many of the most enthusiastic contributors seem to be converts. Observation goes so far as to give the impression that Cradle Catholics are lazy, uncommitted and careless.
Are these perceptions shared by others? Why?
I would love to hear from contributors here, converts or not. Thanks!
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Their contribution after Thomas is almost nothing, yet Thomas being wrong in his arguments in proving God, meaning that the whole community is mislead.
 
kevlarkyogre said:
? I never said I could see more wisely… I can’t tell if you think I was trying to be rude? I was trying to defend people who grew up with the faith I certainly don’t think anything the original poster said was true, I’m sorry if I gave off a vibe like I know better than people born in the faith or something! :S
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I was being sincere .I think you have put the argument well . And you are Wise ,but I see not sure of yourself .:)👍

One does not have to agree with something to see that it is well stated .
 
Anyone who comes to hold a belief after careful thought, reason, and analysis is going to hold it more strongly than someone who was raised to believe it and never really questioned it. That goes for any religion, lack of religion, political belief, and just about everything else I can think of.
 
I am very grateful to all who contributed to this discussion. I found the ideas expressed very interesting.

It seems generally agreed that converts are more committed than Cradlers.

So it is up to us Cradle Catholics to pull up our socks and improve.
Also it is disconcerting to realize so many Cradle Catholics have lapsed. Why? What can and should be done? These questions are for another day.
God bless, and keep the faith!!
 
NoelFitz said:
I am very grateful to all who contributed to this discussion. I found the ideas expressed very interesting.

It seems generally agreed that converts are more committed than Cradlers.

So it is up to us Cradle Catholics to pull up our socks and improve.
Also it is disconcerting to realize so many Cradle Catholics have lapsed. Why? What can and should be done? These questions are for another day.
God bless, and keep the faith!!
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As a cradler I can tell you that I studied the faith long and hard. However, it was this very examination that led me away from, not only the Church, but Christianity in general.
 
OldCelt
thank you for your post.
You have studied long and hard and came to a decision. I am reminded of Polonius in Hamlet
“This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

However you may return to the Church. I hope so. But keep the heart up. “All will be well”.
 
Tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow…'til Bernam Woods do come to Dunsiname…I know it’s Macbeth…oh well.
 
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